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5.2 Reducing Carbon in Major Fields
5.2.1 Value-Added Industry and Low Carbon
What approach should we take to create a bright low carbon society (a platinum
society) using low-carbon power that achieved a reduction in CO 2 emissions by
80%? Let us consider using the data for 2013, which is the base year for CO 2 emissions in Japan in COP 21.
Since CO 2 emissions in 2050 will be reduced by 80%, this represents a mass of
250 million tons (deducting 1003 million tons from 1254 million tons). If the annual
economic growth rate is assumed to be 0.4%, the nominal GDP value is estimated
to be ¥600 trillion, which is about ¥80 trillion more than it is now. In terms of CO 2
emissions per ¥1 trillion of GDP, the amount of CO 2 emissions must be drastically
reduced from the current 2.4 million tons to 420,000 tons.
Table 5.3 illustrates the amount of CO 2 emissions, added value, and CO 2 emissions per ¥1 trillion of value-added for each industry sector in 2013. The power
sector emits a large amount of CO 2 , accounting for 45% of the total emissions
(567 million tons), but since most of the emissions are allocated to each industry
sector, they are not represented in this figure. However, as shown in the previous
section, it is possible to reduce emissions from the power sector by 80% (454 million tons).
In the demand sector, households emit 224 million tons of CO 2 , which is equivalent to 18% of the total. By saving energy in the household and with a new power
supply configuration, we estimate that CO 2 can be reduced by 179 million tons (of
which power usage accounts for 129 million tons), which is equivalent to 80% of
CO 2 emissions in this sector. The transportation sector can also reduce 196 million
tons of CO 2 (of which power usage accounts for 8 million tons) which is also 80%
of CO 2 emissions. In total, a reduction of 375 million tons can be achieved.
Therefore, the amount of CO 2 emissions to be reduced in other industrial sectors,
excluding emissions due to power usage (where reduction by 317 million tons is
possible), CO 2 emissions could be reduced by a total of 311 million tons.
5.2.2 The Ideal State of the Steel Industry
The steel sector emits the largest amount of CO 2 in the industrial sector. As mentioned in Chap. 2, 40–70 billion tons of new steel is needed globally in the future.
Some of the required new steel could possibly be manufactured in Japan even in
2050, considering the high quality of Japanese steel products and high-level of
energy saving technology. Production of steel for export will increase CO 2 emissions, but it will be difficult for steel consuming countries to bear this burden. Thus,
when we consider reductions in CO 2 emissions by 80% in 2050, it is necessary to
consider the increase in CO 2 emissions due to exports.
5 Low-Carbon Society in 2050
5.2 Reducing Carbon in Major Fields
5.2.1 Value-Added Industry and Low Carbon
What approach should we take to create a bright low carbon society (a platinum
society) using low-carbon power that achieved a reduction in CO 2 emissions by
80%? Let us consider using the data for 2013, which is the base year for CO 2 emissions in Japan in COP 21.
Since CO 2 emissions in 2050 will be reduced by 80%, this represents a mass of
250 million tons (deducting 1003 million tons from 1254 million tons). If the annual
economic growth rate is assumed to be 0.4%, the nominal GDP value is estimated
to be ¥600 trillion, which is about ¥80 trillion more than it is now. In terms of CO 2
emissions per ¥1 trillion of GDP, the amount of CO 2 emissions must be drastically
reduced from the current 2.4 million tons to 420,000 tons.
Table 5.3 illustrates the amount of CO 2 emissions, added value, and CO 2 emissions per ¥1 trillion of value-added for each industry sector in 2013. The power
sector emits a large amount of CO 2 , accounting for 45% of the total emissions
(567 million tons), but since most of the emissions are allocated to each industry
sector, they are not represented in this figure. However, as shown in the previous
section, it is possible to reduce emissions from the power sector by 80% (454 million tons).
In the demand sector, households emit 224 million tons of CO 2 , which is equivalent to 18% of the total. By saving energy in the household and with a new power
supply configuration, we estimate that CO 2 can be reduced by 179 million tons (of
which power usage accounts for 129 million tons), which is equivalent to 80% of
CO 2 emissions in this sector. The transportation sector can also reduce 196 million
tons of CO 2 (of which power usage accounts for 8 million tons) which is also 80%
of CO 2 emissions. In total, a reduction of 375 million tons can be achieved.
Therefore, the amount of CO 2 emissions to be reduced in other industrial sectors,
excluding emissions due to power usage (where reduction by 317 million tons is
possible), CO 2 emissions could be reduced by a total of 311 million tons.
5.2.2 The Ideal State of the Steel Industry
The steel sector emits the largest amount of CO 2 in the industrial sector. As mentioned in Chap. 2, 40–70 billion tons of new steel is needed globally in the future.
Some of the required new steel could possibly be manufactured in Japan even in
2050, considering the high quality of Japanese steel products and high-level of
energy saving technology. Production of steel for export will increase CO 2 emissions, but it will be difficult for steel consuming countries to bear this burden. Thus,
when we consider reductions in CO 2 emissions by 80% in 2050, it is necessary to
consider the increase in CO 2 emissions due to exports.
5 Low-Carbon Society in 2050